For this engineer turned leader, continuing education was just the ticket.

When the first Eglinton Crosstown trains begin rolling down the tracks in 2021, the largest transit expansion in recent Toronto history will be complete.

Over his five years working on the Crosstown with foundation drilling and shoring company Deep Foundations, George Crouch made significant contributions to one of the largest infrastructure projects in Canada.

As Assistant General Superintendent, Crouch found he had the technical knowledge he needed, but he wanted to hone his skills in people management, negotiation, and conflict management. “I was dealing with seven project sites and needed better soft skills to quickly build consensus and find solutions” he says.

Crouch turned to continuing education to help round out his skill set, obtaining a Certificate in Leadership Essentials at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies.

With weekly evening classes and weekend intensives, the program gave him the opportunity to put his knowledge into practice. “I found it really helpful to be able to trial-and-error the concepts between classes,” he says. “When I went back to work the next day, I saw the implications of what I was learning in real life.”

Armed with a new confidence and credential, Crouch was promoted to Project Manager. He hopes to move into more senior positions within the infrastructure industry, planning and executing the projects that shape cities and drive the economy.